Control device with two push buttons for two colours ball point pens



Feb. 23, 1965 F. LEVOIN- 3,

CONTROL DEVI'CEVWITH TWO PUSH BUTTONS FOR TWO COLOURS BALL POINT PENSFiled April 22, 1963 2 Shee s-Shee 1 INVENTOR. Few/cm 1.5mm

F. LEVOIN 3,170,440 CONTROL DEVICE WITH Two PUSH BUTTONS FOR TWO COLOURSBALL POINT PENS Filed April 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb; 2 3, 1965INVENTOR. FRHNC 15 L E vow wzw United States Patent 3,170,440 CONTRQLDEVICE WITH TWO PUSH BUTTGNS FOR TWO COLGURS BALL POINT PENS FrancisLevoin, Breganzona, Lugano, Switzerland,

assignor to Real'latentauswertnngs Anstalt, Vaduz, Liechtenstein I FiledApr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,528 Claims priority, applicationSwitzerland, Mar. 6, 1963,

2,873/ 63 8 Claims. (Cl. 120-4213) An object of the invention is theprovision of such a control device which is simple in its'design andoperation.

Another object is the provision of a control device composed of partswhich are of very simple shapes so that they may be readily producedfrom plastics or metals by press operations.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages will be readilyappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment, whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

'FIG. 1 shows a ball point pen equipped with the easing of the inventionin front elevational axial section;

FIG. 2 shows an actuating button of the pen of FIG. 1 in side elevation;

FIG. 3 shows a divider assembly of the pen in a view corresponding tothat of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the cooperation of an actuating button of FIG. 1with the divider assembly of FIG. 3 when the button moves from theinoperative position shown in FIG. 4 through an intermediate positionillustrated in FIG. 6 into the operative position seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, thereare shown two conventional ball pen cartridges h, h which which haveflexible tubular ink reservoirs and a ball point mounted on an end ofthe reservoir. The cartridges are arranged in a pen casing with whichthis invention is more particularly concerned. The casing has agenerally cylindrical main barrel portion b. The ball point of thecartridge'h' projects axially from an opening in a tapering end portionof the barrel. The other end of the main portion 11 is threadedlyconnected to a coaxial cap port-ion i. A partition a is fixed in theopen end of the cap i in a diametrical plane.

A divider assembly best seen in FIG. 3 is axially secured between thepartition a and a radial end face of the barrel portion b in the casingcavity. The divider assembly consists of three rod portions k, k k and acircular disc portion k The four integral divider assembly portionsconstitute the four sides of an elongated frame. Locking projections f,1; project away from each other from the two opposite longer rodportions k k which are of resilient material. The two projections extendin a common plane perpendicular to the axis of the pen barrel and aresomewhat nearer the short rod portion k than the disc portion k A faceof each projection 1, f nearer the short rod portion k slopes at anangle of approximately 45 toward the radial plane disc portion k Theface of each projectionnearer the disc 3,17%,440 Patented Feb. 23, 1965portion slopes much less steeeply toward the radial plane of the latter.In the installed condition of the divider, the rod portions k, k k andthe projections f, 1, extend in the plane of the partition a, as isevident from FIG. 1. The short rod portion k abuts against thepartition, and the disc portion k abuts against the aforementionedradial end face of the barrel portion b.

The divider separates two axially coextensivepoitions of the casingcavity in the cap portion i. Two actuating buttons 0, c are axiallyslidable in the respective cavity portions between an inoperativeposition in which the button 0 is shown to project outward from thecasing cavity, and an operative position illustrated by the but ton c.

As shown in FIG. 2, two axially elongated ribs t 1 project from the faceof the button 0 opposite the but-- ton c, and the latter is providedwith corresponding ribs t t The dimensions of the ribs are such thatthey may move in simultaneous engagement with the divider withoutinterfering with each other. The outer and faces r r of the ribs t tslope obliquely with respect to the barrel axis for conformingengagement with the less steeply sloping faces of the lockingprojections 1, f Near their inner ends, the sides of the ribs t t whichface each other have V-shaped notches s s which conforms to the lockingprojections 1, h. The spacing d between the facing sides of the ribs t tis smaller than the spacing at, of the outer points of the .lockingprojections h in the relaxed condition of the longer rod portions k killustrated in FIG. 3. The ribs t t of the button 0 have engagementfaces r r and V-shaped notches identical with the corresponding featuresof the button c, as is evident from BIG. 5.

The cartridges h, h are held in respective recesses of the buttons c, c,and the buttons are urged toward their inoperative positions by helicalcompression springs e,

'e which abut against thedisc portion k of the divider assembly andagainst radial faces of the buttons. The cartridges h, h are guided intheir movement between the Writing position illustrated by the cartridgeh and the retracted position illustrated by the cartrdige h inconforming openings of the disc portion k The operation of theafore-described apparatus will be described with references to FIGS. 4to 6. In the position of the pen illustrated in FIG. 1, the actuatingbutton c of the retracted cartridge h is in its inoperative position. 7

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer part of the divider assembly including theshort rod portion k and parts of the longer rod portions k k arereceived between the ribs t t The projections 1, h are received in theconforming notches s s and the longer rod portions are in their relaxedor almost relaxed condition. Engagement of the less steeply slopingfaces of the projections f, with the corresponding walls of the notchess s prevents outward movement of the button 0 under the urging of thespring e.

The actuating button c of the cartridge h which is in its writingposition is simultaneously in the operative position shown in FIG. 5.The ribs 1 t are in loose abutting engagement with the parts of the rodportions k k between the locking projections 1, f and the disc portion kThe end faces r r of the ribs abuttingly engage the less steeply slopingfaces of the locking projections 1, f under the urgingof the spring e,and therebylock the button 0 in the illustrated operative position.

When the button 0, which is accessible from the outside of the casing,is moved axially in the direction of the arrow 11, the two long rodportions k k of the divider are pushed radially toward each other by thecamming engagement with the steeply sloping, lock-releasing walls of thenotches s s of the ribs t t as shown in 7 points are retracted.

teachings.

FIG. 6 to permit axial passage of the projections f between the ribs t tunderexternal pressure against the restraint of the spring e. Themovement of the projections f, f away from their locking positionsimultaneously permits the ribs t t to escape outward from the positionillustrated in FIG, 5 under'the force of the spring e. When the button cis fully depressed into the inoperative position, the lockingprojections f resiliently return to their locking position. If pressureon the button c is relaxed inthe position of the button shown in FIG. 6,both buttons are moved by their springs into their inoperativepositions, and both ball Obviously, many modifications and variations ofthe present invention are possible in the light of the above It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed.

I claim: t r r l. A casing for a ball point pen comprising-incombination:

. annaeo (a) a barrel having an axis and formed with an ax- V iallyelongated'cavity'; t (b) a divider member secured in said cavity againstaxial movement, said divider member extending in an axial plane anddividing an axial section of said cavity into two portions, said dividermember ineluding two axially elongated members of resilient material,respective portions of said elongated members being resiliently movabletoward and awayfrom j each other in said plane transversely of saidaxis; (c) locking means secured on said divider member and projectingtherefrom in said plane inadirec'ztion transverse of said axis, saidlocking means be' ing resiliently movable in said plane toward and awayfrom a locking position, said-locking means including two lockingmembers respectively secured on said portions of said elongated membersfor movement toward and away'from each other, said locking membersbeing'remote from each other when said locking means are in said lockingposition;

I (d) two actuator members axially slidable in respective ones of saidportions between respective operv ative and inoperative positions;

(6) engagement means fixedly fastened on each actuator member foraxially abutting engagement with said locking means when said'lockingmeans is in said locking position thereof;

(f) lock releasing meansfixedly fastened on each actuator memberandengageable with said locking means for moving the same in saidtransverse direction away from said locking position thereof when saidactuator member moves from said inoperative toward said operativeposition thereof; and I (g) resilient means permanently urging eachactuator member'to' move from said operative toward said inoperativeposition thereof, said engagement means axially abutting against saidlocking means under the urging of said resilient means when saidactuator member is inthe operative position thereof and said lockingmeans is in said locking position.

2. A casing as set forth in claim 1, further comprising abutment meanson said divider, member, said abut- 'ment 1 means axially abuttingagainst said engagement said transverse direction-away from the otherone of said two rod members, said one rod member being of resilientmaterial; (0) two actuator'buttons axially slidable in respective onesof said cavity portions'between respective operative and inoperativepositions; i 1 (d) an integral rib projecting from each actuator buttontoward the other actuator button, each rib havbutton from said.operative toward said inoper-.

ative position; and I (e) yieldably resilient means permanentlyurgingeach button to move from said operative toward said in operativeposition. 4. In a pen as set forth in claim 3, a third one of said rodmembers extending in said transverse direction and integrally connectingrespective terminal portions of said two rod members axially spaced fromsaid disc member. 5. In a pen as set forth in claim 4, said third rodmember being arcuately curved.

v 6. In a pen as set forth in-clairn 5, said disc memher being formedwith two openings spaced in said transverse direction; andacartridgemember secured'to each of said buttons and slidably received ina respective opcning of said disc member for axial movement with therespective button.

7. In a ball pen, in combination: v (a) a barrel having an axis and.formed with an axially elongated cavity;

(b) a divider assembly secured in said cavity against axial movement,said assembly including 7 (l) a plurality of rod members extending, in acommon axial plane, said plane dividing an axial section of said cavityinto two portions,

(2) two'of said rod members being elongated in an axial-direction andbeing spaced from {each other in a direction transverse of said axis,

(3) a disc member axially secured in said barrel cavity and integrally.fastened to'respective axial end portions of 'sa id two rod membersyand(4) a locking member'projecting in" said plane I from each of said tworod members in said transverse direction away from the other one of saidtwo rod members, said rod members'being of resilient material; i I

w (c) two actuator buttons axially slidable in'respective ones of saidcavity portions betweenrespective opoperative and inoperation'positions; (at) two axially elongated integral ribs projecting from eachactuator button toward corresponding ribs on the other actuator button,said ribs being spaced fromeach other in said transverse direct-ion oneach button, and said two rod members being received between said ribs,each rib fhaving (l) a face obliquely inclined relative toqsaid di.

rections and engageable with a coordinated one of said locking membersfor resilientlydisplacing the same towardthe. other locking member t insaid transverse direction when said button (1') a cam face obliquelyinclined relative to said moves from said inoperative toward saidoperative position thereof, and p (2) an abutment face engageable withthe coordinated locking member for preventing movement of said buttonfrom said operative toward said inoperative position; and

(e) yieldably resilient means permanently urging each button to movefrom said operative toward said inoperative position.

8. In a pen as set forth in claim 7, said disc member being formed withtwo openings spaced in said transverse direction; and a cartridge membersecured to each of said buttons and slidably received in a respectiveopening of said disc member for axial movement with the respectivebutton.

FOREIGN PATENTS 217,896 3/61 Austria. 1,229,397 3/60 France. 1,249,83511/60 France.

578,023 7/58 Italy.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

1. A CAUSING FOR A BALL POINT PEN COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) ABARREL HAVING AN AXIS AND FORMED WITH AN AXIALLY ELONGATED CAVITY; (B) ADIVIDER MEMBER SECURED IN SAID CAVITY AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT, SAIDDIVIDER MEMBER EXTENDING IN AN AXIAL PLANE AND DIVIDING AN AXIAL SECTIONOF SAID CAVITY INTO TWO PORTIONS, AND DIVIDER MEMBER INCLUDING TWOAXIALLY ELONGATED MEMBERS TO RESILIENT MATERIAL, RESPECTIVE PORTIONS OFSAID ELONGATED MEMBERS BEING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROMEACH OTHER IN SAID PLANE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID AXIS; (C) LOCKING MEANSSECURED TO SAID DIVIDER MEMBER AND PROJECTING THEREFROM IN SAID PLANE INA DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF SAID AXIS, SAID LOCKING MEANS BEINGRESILIENTLY MOVABLE IN SAID PLANE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM A LOCKINGPOSITION, SAID LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING TWO LOCKING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELYSECURED ON SAID PORTIONS OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARDAND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, SAID LOCKING MEMBERS BEING REMOTE FROM EACHOTHER, SAID SAID LOCKING MEANS ARE IN SAID LOCKING POSITION; (D) TWOACTUATOR MEMBERS AXIALLY SLIDABLE IN RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PORTIONSBETWEEN RESPECTIVE OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS; (E) ENGAGEMENTMEANS FIXEDLY FASTENED ON EACH ACUTATOR MEMBER FOR AXIALLY ABUTTINGENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING MEANS WHEN SAID LOCKING MEANS IS IN SAIDLOCKING POSITION THEREOF;